Sheffield United: Town wary of the Clough factor

Graham Turner, the Shrewsbury Town manager, has warned Nigel Clough’s appointment means Sheffield United will pose a tougher test at Greenhous Meadow than the League One table might suggest.

Bramall Lane’s board of directors unveiled Clough as David Weir’s permanent successor after parting company with the former Scotland international 22 days ago and the 47-year-old celebrated his arrival by orchestrating a 3-1 victory over Crewe Alexandra last weekend.

Despite that result, United travel to Shropshire in 20th position but Turner said: “Sheffield United have been down there near the bottom but a new manager coming in will galvanise the team into better performances.

“They couldn’t win a game, they could barely get a draw. We are due to play them and Nigel Clough is appointed and they get a win so I think it just makes it much more difficult.

“But we are at home. We haven’t played badly at home so we have got to go into the game with confidence and make sure we get the right result.

“It’s a big club and they will bring a big following so there is the challenge. When we have played the likes of Coventry and Bristol City and certainly Wolves we have risen to the challenge and the occasion although the results haven’t gone as well as we would have hoped.”

Clough, previously of Derby County, hopes United can extend their unbeaten run to four matches by securing a positive result against 18th placed Town this afternoon.

Turner, reflecting on his counterpart’s spell in charge at Pride Park, said: “From the outside it didn’t appear he had many funds for buying players so in that respect he did very solid job.

“But he’s gone to another big club. Sheffield United should be playing at a higher level and over the longer term I am sure he will turn it round. I’m just hoping over the short term he doesn’t.”